Engine starting device



LSRMBZ Juiy 28, 1931. F. R. WUQD ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10,1930 oen'Yor TX 6 RN! o6 Eggs-o o com DENSER 2O Patented July 28, 1931UNITED STATES FLOYD R. WOOD, 01E GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ENGINE STARTINGDEVICE Application filed December 10, 1930. Serial No. 501,230.-

This invention pertains to a device adapted to be applied to theignition system of an internal combustion engine and more particularlyto an attachment adapted to be fastened to one contact of the timingunit of the'usual automobile engine whereby the timer may be made tooperate even though the ignition switch'is in a locked position.

One manner of locking automobiles against unauthorized movement is tolock the ignition switch so that the terminal which leads therefrom tothe contact screw, inside of the distributor cover, and which carriesapositive current, is shorted to the frame of the automobile whereby itis grounded or in other words whereby it is negative as regards itsphase of electricity.

It is often desirable, particularly for garage men who desire torearrange locked automobiles inside of their garage, to be able toquickly start the engine and hence quickly and expediently move the carto its chosen position. Also my device is usual inconnec tion withparking lots whereby locked parked cars may be conveniently moved.

My aim is to construct and inventively create a small attachment whichmay be easily applied to the distributor of the locked car and also toany wire on the opposite side of the coil unit with respect to thebattery and which carries the positive phase of the battery currentwhereby the timing device will operate in the usual manner thus givingthe interruptions in the primary circuit, these interruptions beingnecessary in order to generate the high tension secondary current whichgoes to the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine in a mannerwell know to those cognizant in this art.

As a matter of fact I also utilize the wire which leads from theignition switch to the contact point and which grounds the contact pointwhen the ignition switch is in locked position. I do this by connectinga Wire onto the U-shaped member which supports my device in position andthis wire passes through a condenser, the other side of the condenserbeing connected to the auxiliary contact point as will later be fullyset forth.

'cates the engine block, havin Other objects will appear, or becomeapparent or obvious and will suggest themselves during the descriptionof the device shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which, i

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an engine block, cowl, coil, distributorand terminal box of a usual automobile.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the usual timer thereforythe distributor capbeing removed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing my invention appliedthereto.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my invention, showing the base unit,condenser and spring clip, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration showing the usual electrical circuitof the internal combustion engine in full lines and the electricalcircuit of my attachment in dotted lines.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, 10 indithe usual spark plugs 11,distributor and'timing unit 12, with the high tension wire 13 leadingtherefrom, 14 the coil, 15 the terminal box and 16 the cowl of theautomobile.

As is shown in Fig. 5, the coil 14 is connected to abattery 17, groundedas shown, an ignition switch 18, grounded at 19 as shown, this beingdone when the ignition switch is locked, or else the ignition switch maybe turned to an operative position, as indicated by the arrow thuspermitting the low tension current a continuous path through the primaryof the coil 14 when the breaker is in its closed position. A condenser20 shunted across the breaker points in order to minimize the arcingthereof. a

As shown in Fig. 2 the timer comprises a breaker arm 25 held against thecontact screw 27 by means of the spring 26. The contact screw isthreadably engaged in the clamp 28 and a contact lock screw 29 holds 95the contact screw in position so that its contact point 30 abuts againstthe contact point 31 on the breaker arm. A vertical shaft, driven fromthe engine shaft and in proper time therewith, has the usual came 32protruding therefrom, these cams coacting with the breaker arm toseparate the contact A conducting wire 46 leads from the member 41 to aspring clip 47, this clip being rigidly connected to the condenser unit48, the condensing unit serving as a handle for the spring clip inaddition to its usual function. The spring clip'47 is adapted to beclamped on the wire connecting the coil and ignition switch. A wire 49leads from the other end of the condenser back to the U-shaped member50. The member 50 is fastenedv in place under the contact locking screw29 and not only serves as a support for the base element 40 and itsappurtenances but also serves to ground the wire 49 leading from thecondenser.

The operation is readily understood.

When an automobile ignition switch has been locked in the usual mannerthe several electrical units are connected as is shown in Fig. 5 andhence the contact point 30 is grounded. Thus, obviousl the engine willnot start as no spark can he created by the electrical units. Now, toapply my inven tion or auxiliary'contact device, the distrib-.

utor cap is removed the contact locking screw 29 loosened and thecontact screw 25 properly rotated so as to increase the distance betweenthe'contact points a considerable amount. Next the U*shaped member 50,rigid with the base element 40, is slid under the head of the screw 29until its auxiliary contact point 44 is properly positioned relative tothe contact point 31 on the breaker arm and then the contact lockingscrew 29 is tightened.

The spring clip 47 is now .fastened to a proper positive wire and thedistributor cap is now placed back in position. Now, as has previouslybeen explained the operation ofthe electrical system of the car willonce more be ready for proper operation and hence the car may be drivenas desired.

While I have described a complete embodiment of my invention 1 do notwish to be limited to the particular construction shown, my inventionbeing in. fact limited solely by the attached claims.

ll claim: 7

1. in an electrical timing arrangement having a grounded breaker arm, acontact point adapted to be operatively associated therewith and meansto adjustably support the contact point in operative or inoperativeposition, the combination of a support, means adapted to mount thesupport upon the aforesaid means which supports the contact point, ametal arm extending from the support and adapted to lie in front of thecontact point when the same is in inoperative position, said metal armbeing insulated from the supporting means, an. auxiliary contact pointaffixed to the metal arm and electrical conducting means fastened to themetal arm.

2. In an electrical timing arrangement having agrounded breaker arm, acontact point adapted to be operatively associated therewith, means toadjustably support the contact point in operative or inoperativeposition, and means to ground the contact point as desired, thecombination of a support, means adapted to mount the support upon theaforesaid'means which supports the contact point, a metal arm extendingfrom the support and adapted to lie in front of the contact point whenthe same is in inoperative position, said metal arm being insulated fromthe supporting means, an auxiliary contact point affixed to the metalarm and electrical conducting means fastened to the metal arm,'means forsupplying a positive phase of electricity thereto, a condenser, meansfor connecting one side of the condenser to the first mentioned contactpoint when it is grounded and means for electrically connecting theother side of the condenser to the auxiliary contact point.

3. An auxiliary contact point arrangement comprising a base plateconsisting of insulating material, a metal arm fastened to the baseplate and extending therefrom, a contact point mounted upon said arm, aU- shaped clamping member extending from the base plate substantiallyparallel to the aforesaid arm and electricity conducting means fastenedto and extending from the metal arm whereby the contact point may beenergized by supplying a-current to said conducting means.

4. In a timer for the usual internal combustion engine having a breakerarm, a contact screw adapted to be cooperatively associated therewithand means for maintaining the contact screw in place the combination ofan auxiliary contact point, means to mount the contact point in front ofthe end of the contact screw and slightly spaced therefrom whereby thesame is insulated from the contact screw, said last mentioned meansbeing cooperatively associated with the first mentioned means.

5. An article of manufacture comprising a base, a contact point thereor,conducting means connected to and leading from said contact point analmeans to clamp the in position.

An article of manufacture cemprising a nase, a contact point thereon, aspring clip, conducting means connected. to and; ieaciing from saidcontact paint t0 said spring ciip, means to clamp the base in position,a condenser and means for placing the cendenser' in series between thespring ciip and base ciamping means.

'2. An article of manufacture comprising a base formed of insulatingmaterial, a centact point thereon, conducting means leading from saidcontact point, a clip on the end of said conducting means, and means ensaid ease anci extending therefrom whereby the base may be ciamped infixed position.

8. .Tn a device of the character described, base piateformeci ofinsulatin material a metal arm supporteoi thereby and extendingthere'frcni, a contact point on one face of the arm, an insulatingnieiiinm on the other face the arm a U-shape-(i clamping member rigidwith the base plate anoi flexible conduct ing means Beading from thesaid nietai arm.

testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

